Peter Langille, one of the Rideau Institute’s Senior Advisors, spoke recently at a conference with the intriguing title How to Save the World in a Hurry (30-31 May 2018, Toronto). He brilliantly articulated the urgent need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges and the case for “sustainable common security” as the means to pull together. Here is his introduction with alink to the full text hereand below.

“Why are we here? Well, we share concerns over a number of issues and, yes, we recognize the need to share a more comprehensive approach.

But so far, it appears we also share a problem — we lack an organizing principle to pull people, civil society causes and progressive parties together.

We hear that there’s an interest in intersectional campaigns — in building bridges between those who care about disarmament, the environment, development, inequality and militarism. We see the links between our struggles and theirs and know or should know we can’t do much alone. We all need help and we’d have a better chance if we pulled together.

My talk today is about sustainable common security as a means to pull together. And, I’ll start with three leading questions:

First, might the umbrella concept of sustainable common security help as a unifying step toward a one world perspective, a global culture of peace and a movement of movements? Possibly.

Second, does this umbrella cover most of our efforts to deal with critical global challenges and, would it encourage the key shifts necessary? Probably.

Third, might this concept also help to challenge the national security narrative underpinning nuclear deterrence, constant preparation for war and our expensive war system? Yes.

…

A concept is only a start. Obviously, there is no one conceptual cure-all. But just ask yourself, might this ideal appeal widely and build a wider bridge to cooperation and solidarity among progressive social movements; one that expands our base and potential to help with what’s ahead?

Sustainable common security might simply help us pull together on what matters.”

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